Janet Jackson’s Lawyer: She’s Not After Michael’s Money

Janet Jackson’s attorney has released a statement on behalf of the singer, her brother Randy and sister Rebbie strongly denying that they are trying to benefit financially from their late brother Michael’s estate, reports the Los Angeles Times.

They accused the executors of trying to divide the family and distract from questions about the legitimacy of Michael Jackson’s will.

“They stand to gain nothing financially by a finding that the will is invalid,” Blair G. Brown, a Washington attorney for Janet Jackson, wrote in the statement released Friday. “What will be gained … is that the executors will be replaced and the estate and the guardianship will be managed in a manner that is in the best interest of the children, which is what Michael wanted.”

Allegations that the siblings were holding their 82-year-old mother against her will in Arizona drew worldwide attention last week and resulted in a new custody arrangement in which the family matriarch shares guardianship of Michael Jackson’s three children with Tito’s son, Tito Joe “T.J.” Jackson.

The 2002 will accepted by a probate judge after Jackson’s death three years ago gave music industry veterans John Branca and John McClain control of an estate with an estimated worth of $1 billion. The court-approved compensation plan gives the executors a 10% cut of some earnings.

The siblings have said the will was faked and cited evidence that Michael Jackson was out of town on the day the will indicates he signed the document in Los Angeles.

A spokesman for the estate said Friday evening that the legal window for challenging the will has closed, but that two prior wills also named Branca executor and gave no power to Jackson’s siblings.

In his statement, Brown accused the executors of barring the three siblings from visiting their mother at the Calabasas home where she lives with her grandchildren.

“The effect … not only is to damage fundamental family relationships, it is also to isolate Katherine Jackson from anyone questioning the validity of the will,” Brown wrote.

The executors’ spokesman said Katherine Jackson and T.J. have the final say on who is allowed at the residence.